Nuclear Engineering and Design 141 (1993) 249-268 249

North-Holland

Two-phase flow in small-scale ribbed and finned passages

for compact evaporators and condensers
V.P C a r e y
Mechanical Engineering Department, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

Received 1 October 1992

Complex small-scale finned and ribbed passages are being used with increasing frequency in compact high-performance
evaporators and condensers. The complexity and small scale of these passages causes the flow and transport mechanisms to
differ substantially from those in larger simpler tubes more commonly used in power, process and refrigeration applications.
Special features of two-phase and transport in ribbed and finned passages are described. Results of recent investigations
which have illuminated some of the very different mechanisms that arise in these circumstances are also summarized. The
effects of liquid shedding from discontinuous structures, the strong role of surface tension forces, and the existence of
recirculation zones and lateral nonuniformity of the flow are especially important in these small-scale passages. The impact
of these features on modeling of two-phase transport in evaporators and condensers is also discussed.

1. Introduction ing stream due to its proximity to a continuous source

Ribbed and finned flow passage geometries have
been commonly used in single-phase compact heat
exchanger applications for more than sixty years. How-
ever, over the past decade, compact high-performance
heat exchanger surfaces have been used with increas-
ing frequency for applications involving boiling and
condensation. The need for high-performance a n d / o r
ultra-compact evaporators or condensers has appeared
in a number of thermal control problems. Applications
of this type include cryogenic processing systems for
liquefaction of natural gas and the separation of oxy-
gen and nitrogen, automotive air-conditioning, thermal
control of avionics in high-performance military air-
craft, and thermal control of spacecraft payloads.
In many applications, compact evaporators and con-
densers are configured to transfer heat between two
fluid streams. There are also a number of actual and
potential applications in which a compact heat ex-
changer passage geometry is needed to facilitate
highly-efficient heating or cooling process involving
boiling or condensation. Instead of heat transfer be-
tween two streams, these applications may involve
transport of heat to or from a condensing or evaporat-
or sink of thermal energy. Applications of this type
may include condensation in passages of spacecraft
radiator panels, and vaporization of coolants in cold
plates for electronics cooling and in coolant passages in
fusion reactor walls.
Some compact evaporator and condenser designs
may be configured so that boiling or condensation
occurs in moderate-sized round-tube passages. The
results of studies to date indicate, however, that the
used of very small scale enhanced passages, like those
shown in fig. 1, can substantially enhance the perfor-
mance of a compact evaporator or condenser. These
enhanced surfaces generally fall into one of two cate-
gories: (1) enhanced round tubes and (2) matrix type
surfaces. Matrix-type surfaces usually have a repeating
pattern to them, but are non-circular in cross-section
and often have interrupted surfaces or structures that
protrude into the passage. Enhanced round tubes are
basically round tubes with some added structural fea-
ture that enhances transport.
We will focus primarily on more complicated ma-
trix-type surfaces, such as offset-fin (plate-fin) surfaces
and cross-ribbed channel geometries. The discussion
also relates to ultra-small enhanced round tube config-

0 0 2 9 - 5 4 9 3 / 9 3 / $ 0 6 . 0 0 © 1993 - E l s e v i e r S c ie n c e Publishers B.V. A l l rights r e s e r v e d

250 V.P. Carey / Two-phase flow in ribbed and finned passages

urations with finned or ribbed walls. Some embodi-
ments of surfaces of these types are shown in fig. l.
The results of recent studies of the two-phase flow
characteristics for small complex passage geometries
are summarized in subsequent sections of this paper in
an attempt to provide an overview of the distinctive
features of two-phase transport in complicated pas-
sages of these types. The impact of these features on
strategies for achieving optimal designs of compact
heat exchangers for phase-change applications will also
be examined.
2. Additional mechanisms that arise in small complex
passages
There are two features of the operating characteris-
tics of compact surfaces in vaporization and condensa-
tion applications that strongly affect how they wilt
perform. First, the length scales of the passage geome-
try, particularly the hydraulic diameter, are relatively
much smaller than the tube passages most often used
in power system, refrigeration and process heat trans-
fer applications. The second important operating fca-
ture relates to the complexity of the passage and its
impact on pressure drop. To operate heat exchangers
containing such tiny, and often torturous, passages
without a heavy pressure drop penalty, the flow through
the exchanger is usually kept at a relatively low mass
flux level. More conventional evaporators and con-
densers may have passage hydraulic diameters ranging
from one to six centimeters and typically operate at
mass flux (G) levels above 1000 kg/m2s. Compact
units of the type considered here may have hydraulic
diameters as low a 0.4 mm and operate at mass flux
levels between 5 and 300 kg/mZs. The differences

Hf = 2(b+6f) -~ ~p,

"~ L~s flow through

flow direction cross-ribbed
channel

(a) Plate-Fin Surface (b) Cross-Ribbed Surface

Cruciform Tube Internally Finned Tube Helically Grooved Tube

.'//, j
fin
heightb

(c) Enhanced Round Tubes

Fig. 1. Enhanced passage geometries that are sometimes used in compact evaporators or condensers.
 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and finned passages 251

tween 50 and 300 kg/m2s, relevant dimensionless

10000 groups fall in the ranges indicated below:
i~!iiiii~!~!:i~i~i~;~!~!~i~i~i~!!!!~i~i~i~i~!!!~ii
...... i!iiiiconventional iiiiiiiiiii
Iliiiiii 1
......................................................................
evaporators !iiiiiiiii1 Group Range
[fill! and i!i!!iiiii~
iiiili condensers iiiiiiiiiiii~ G(1 - x ) d h
Re t 0 to 3,100 (1)
1000 /xl
Gxd h
Re v = - - 0 to 92,000 (2)
/Zv
compact G2(1 - x ) 2 d h
100 evaporator We z - 0 to 35 (3)
and Orpl
condenser
passages G2x2dh
We v 0 to 6,100 (4)
orp/.
10 (P,-Pv)gd~
.0001 .001 .01 .1 Bo 0.89 (5)
d h (m) at
Fig. 2. Operating ranges Of conventional and compact evapo-
rators and condensers.
The range of Reynolds numbers indicated above span
the laminar, transition and turbulent ranges. In gen-
between the operating ranges of conventional exchang- eral, we expect that viscous and inertia effects may play
ers and compact evaporators and condensers is illus- important roles in the two-phase transport. The Weber
trated graphically in fig. 2. The flow passage in a recent numbers We I and We v defined above represent ratios
automotive condenser design developed by Modine of inertia effects to surface tension forces. The ranges
Manufacturing Company [2] is an example of the ex- of these parameters suggest that inertia effects associ-
tremely small passage dimensions that may be used. ated with vapor motion are usually large compared
The cross-section of this passage design is shown with surface tension effects at high quality. At low
schematically in fig. 3. The patent for this design quality, inertia effects associated with liquid motion
specifies optimal mean hydraulic diameters for the can, in some cases be small compared with surface
passage in the range of 0.38 to 1.02 mm. tension effects. The Bond number Bo is essentially the
For a given working fluid, the ranges of G and d h, ratio of gravity body forces to surface tension effects.
together with the details of the passage geometry and For this system, this ratio is near one, suggesting that
the imposed wall conditions, will largely dictate the these two effects (gravity and surface tension) are
performance of the heat exchanger. To make this more either both important mechanisms or neither is impor-
concrete, we consider the example of saturated convec- tant.
tive boiling of nitrogen at atmospheric pressure in a Two additional features are also of special impor-
passage with d h = 1.0 mm. For mass flux values be- tance in the compact passages of interest here. First,
unlike round vertical round tubes, the two-phase trans-
port is usually non-uniform over the perimeter of the
passage at any downstream location. This results from
the effect of the irregularity of the passage on the
two-phase flow, and because the configuration of the

~ tube
compact heat exchanger usually causes the thermal
boundary condition to be non-uniform over the pas-
sage wall. The second additional feature arises at high
quality in passage geometries having interrupted sur-
faces. In such instances, liquid flowing in a film along
fin or rib structures may be shed from the downstream
edges of these structures into the coreflow. This shed-
Fig. 3. Cross-section of passage used in ultra-compact Modine ding process may play an important role in the heat
automotive condenser. and mass transfer within the flow.
252 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and finned passages

PRIMESURFACE
J
SECONDARY(FIN) SURFACE5
Fig. 4. Schematic of a typical offset fin matrix.

To gain some insight into the additional transport changes in local pressure gradient and in shear stress
mechanisms that arise in the enhanced surfaces used in at the film interface. Mandrusiak and Carey [1], for
compact evaporators and condensers, we shall examine example, found that the film may flow against an
in more detail the two-phase transport characteristics adverse pressure gradient at some locations in a pas-
in a specific flow passage type. Because it has been sage with offset strip fins.
widely studied, we focus, for the moment on the offset The second important effect on film transport is
strip fin surface illustrated in fig. 4. that the non-uniformity of the core flow alters the
In most common vaporization or condensation ap- entrainment and deposition, which, in turn, changes
plications, a large portion of the phase change process the distribution of the liquid inventory over the
is accomplished under conditions which result in annu- perimeter of the passage. At low to moderate qualities,
lar flow. For such circumstances, the core flow is this may simply result in a variation of the film thick-
mostly vapor, with some entrained droplets. A thin ness over the fin and prime wall surfaces. During
liquid film also flows along the fins and prime surface vaporization at moderate to high qualities, this may
walls in the passage. The computational model of Man-
drusiak and Carey [1] predicts that the core flow (away
from the lateral prime surface walls) weaves its way
through the fin matrix, as shown in fig. 5.
The complex variation of the core flow field within
the fin matrix greatly complicates the transport of heat
and mass in the flow. Regions of recirculation may
exist downstream of the fins. Vortex shedding at the
trailing end of the fins may produce a time-variation in
the flow field.
For annular flow, transport of heat and momentum
across the liquid film on the prime surface and fins
largely dictates the heat transfer and pressure loss
performance of the offset fin surface. The spatial non- flow
uniformity of the core flow affects transport in the film Fig. 5. Coreflow streamlines in an offset fin matrix for typical
in two important ways. First, because of the core flow flow conditions as computed by the model of Mandrusiak and
variations, the liquid film experiences substantial Carey [l].
 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and finned passages 253

edge of the fin, the liquid may be shed as droplets off

the end of the fin and become entrained in the core
o./" flow. Alternatively, at locations near the lateral prime
o~.~ °B
surface walls, surface tension may force the liquid to
"o o °'/ merge into the liquid films on the lateral walls. These
phenomena are indicated schematically in fig. 6a. It
Hf/2 'Jo o
should be noted that although the discussion here has
focused on offset strip fins, liquid shedding from fins
o°o ,:-
or ribs may also occur in other enhanced passage
geometries having interrupted surfaces. The efficiency
of convective vaporization processes in such passages
will depend directly on how effectively liquid can be
delivered to surfaces of fin or rib structures down-
stream of the location where shedding occurs. It is
desirable to keep the fins covered with liquid, but too
much liquid on the fins generally increases the resis-
tance to heat flow across the film and degrades perfor-
mance.
V-..
H f/2

(b)

Fig. 6. Illustration of mechanisms for exchanging liquid film

between successive rows of fins: (a) flow off of fins; (b) flow
onto fins.

cause portions of the passage wall to dryout, while

other areas remain wet.
For vaporization processes in offset fin geometries,
the transport of liquid onto the fin surfaces is espe-
cially important. The surface area of the fins is typi-
cally 80% or more of the total in the offset fin passage.
fl0wI
Portions of the fin surface that dry-out contribute little,
if anything to the total heat transfer, resulting in a
reduced overall effectiveness of the surface. In offset
fin surfaces, liquid is delivered to the fins by two
mechanisms: (1) entrained liquid droplets may be de-
posited on the fin surfaces, and (2) liquid from the
prime surface walls may be dragged onto the fins by
lateral Reynolds stresses exerted by the turbulent core
flow on the prime-surface liquid film. The latter mech-
Fig. 7. Photograph of annular film flow boiling of water in a
anism is indicated schematically in fig. 6b.
vertical channel with offset fins for G = 15.2 kg/m2s. At the
Liquid on the fin flows downstream due to the arrow, x = 0.38. The light regions on the surface are dry areas
combined effects of pressure gradient, interracial shear whereas the dark areas are covered with liquid. (from Carey
and body forces. When the film reaches the trailing et al. [3]).
254 V.P. Carey / Two-phase flow in ribbed and finned passages

process. Thus a surface that sheds liquid effecnvely

flowI
Fig. 8. Photograph of fully-wetted annular film flow boiling of
methanol at atmospheric pressure in a vertical channel with
offset strip fins. G = 15.0 kg/m2s and at the arrow, x = 0.22
(from Carey, et al. [3]).
In convective condensation processes, it is advanta-
geous to keep as little liquid as possible on the fins
since its presence there only slows the condensation
from its fins or rib structures and keeps the liquid
entrained in the core will provide superior perfor-
mance in condenser applications, but may be prone to
early partial dryout and inferior performance in flow
boiling applications. A photograph of vaporizing annu-
lar two-phase flow in a passage with offset strip fins is
shown in fig. 7. This photograph was taken through the
transparent front wall of the passage. The fins and
back wall are heated, vaporizing the coolant as it flows
vertically upward through the passage. The lighter
patches on the heated back wall and fins are dEv areas.
The heated surfaces become progressively drier with
increasing downstream distance until the liquid inven-
tory is so low that the walls are completely dry~ This
progressive dryout, which produces a gradual decrease
in the localized heat transfer coefficient with down-
stream distance, is a feature that is distinctly different
from round tube behavior.
The non-uniformity of convective transport during
two-phase flow within a ribbed or finned passage can
strongly affect vaporization mechanisms in at least two
ways. The first effect arises at low to moderate wall
superheat levels, where nucleate boiling may persist
into the slug or annular regimes. Strong convective
transport of heat from the surfaces of fins or ribs may
result in strong temperature gradients within these
structures. Even with relatively uniform convection, the
fin-efficiency effect will produce non-uniform surface
temperatures on the fins or ribs. The non-uniformity of
the convective effect can further enhance the non-uni-
formity in the wall temperatures, This, in turn, can
lead to partial suppression of nucleation at locations
where the superheat is lower, and vigorous nucleation
at locations where the superheat is higher. The wake
regions immediately downstream of fins or ribs are

o
o ° •

o~

active nucleation film ~- some

sites nucleotion present
Fig. 9. Variations in nucleation activity observed by Cohen and Carey [4] during vertical upward flow boiling in a cross-ribbed
passage.
 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and finned passages
usually regions of weak convection, resulting in locally
higher wall temperatures. Not, surprisingly, such re-
gions are often, but not always, observed to be regions
of exceptionally vigorous nucleate boiling activity. Fig-
ure 8 is a photograph of annular film flow boiling of
methanol in a vertical partially heated channel with
offset strip fins from the study of Carey and Mandru-
siak [3]. Of particular note is that there is little if any
nucleation of small bubbles visible in this photo except
at a few locations in the corner regions where the fin
structures meet the prime surface. Because surface
tension tends to thicken the liquid film in these corner
regions convective effects are expected to be weaker
there, resulting in higher surface temperatures which
promote nucleation. For annular flow vaporization in
crossribbed passages, Cohen and Carey [4] observed
the variation of the nucleation behavior indicated
schematically in fig. 9. Their observations further illus-
trate this effect. It is worth noting that nucleate boiling
augments the heat transfer precisely where convective
effects are weakest, thus tending to even-out variations
in surface temperature.
A second effect of the non-uniformity of convective
effects may arise at higher wall temperatures a n d / o r
higher applied heat flux levels. At low quality, portions
of the surface that are exposed to strong convective
flow
Fig. 10. Photograph of air bubbles held in place by surface tension in an offset fin matrix. The channel is horizontal with pure water
at 20°C flowingfrom left to right at G = 60 kg/m2s.
255
effects may be cooled adequately by forced-convection
and nucleate boiling effects. At locations where forced
convection effects are weak, however, the critical heat
flux condition may be exceed and a region of localized
film boiling may exist. For example, film boiling may
occur in the corner regions at the base of fins and
along the leeward side of fins which are poorly washed
by the forced-flow while portions of the fin away from
the prime surface are fully-wetted and cooled by nucle-
ate boiling. Obviously when conditions of this type
occur, the morphology of the two-phase flow is signifi-
cantly different from ordinary bubbly or slug flow.
An additional feature that occurs in some enhanced
passages is induced swirl. In some cross-ribbed pas-
sages, the configuration of the passage intrinsically
induces a swirling motion to the flow which is superim-
posed on the downstream motion over or around any
fins or ribs in passage. The superimposed swirling
motion can significantly alter the two-phase flow be-
havior from that which would occur in a round tube
under comparable conditions. Specifically, the centrifu-
gal body force associated with the swirling effect tends
to displace liquid toward the outer wall and vapor
towards the center of the passage. In bubbly flow, this
may concentrate bubbles in the center of the passage.
In annular flow this may reduce entrainment by caus-
256 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and.]inned passages

ing droplets in the core to drift towards the walls and
merge into the film flow.
Another special feature results from the strong role
that surface tension may play under low-flow, low-qual-
ity conditions in small-scale finned and ribbed pas-
sages. In an experimental investigation of two-phase
flow of water and air through an offset fin surface,
Carey [5] demonstrated that surface tension may hold
bubbles in the fin matrix even in the presence of a
moderately strong liquid flow through the matrix. A
photograph illustrating this phenomenon is shown in
fig. 10. Carey [5] presented arguments which indicate
that this effect would tend to keep the void fraction
higher at low qualities than would exist in round tube
flows without this effect. The blockage effect of the
bubbles would tend to increase two-phase pressure
drop. Carey [5] also argued that in vaporizing flows this
effect would tend to increase the heat transfer coeffi-
cient. This enhancement of heat transfer was found to
be consistent with trends in convective boiling heat
transfer data obtained by Robertson [6] and Robertson
and Lovegrove [7].
For annular flow in small-scale finned and ribbed
surfaces, surface tension also produces the Gregorig
effect in which liquid is drawn into corner regions
because of a pressure gradient induced by changes in
curvature of the interface. (See Carey [8] for a detailed
description of this mechanism.) The Gregorig effect
acts to make the liquid film thicker in the corner
regions and thinner in the center of flat surfaces in the
passage. This serves to enhance convective heat trans-
fer in finned and ribbed passages. For convective va-
porization, this may enhance heat transfer if sufficient
liquid is present to keep the surfaces fully wetted. If,
on the other hand, the thinned portions of the film
become locations where premature dryout occurs, the
Gregorig effect may decrease heat transfer perfor-
sages to deviate from the behavior in round tubes
under comparable conditions. In general, these mecha-
nisms may strongly affect heat transfer and species
transport. However, under the conditions usually en-
countered in applications, the two-phase flow morphol-
ogy and momentum transport for two-phase flows in
complex passages is frequently, but not always, very
similar to that in round tubes. The results of several
early investigations do, in fact, indicate that, for com-
parable conditions, the predictions of flow regime maps
for round tube flows agree fairly well with the observed
behavior for two-phase flows in simple non-circular
geometries (see for example, Hoopes [9], Davis and
David [10], Hosler [11] and Quandt [12]).
Further guidance on the use ot' flow regime maps
for round tubes to other geometries is provided by the
results of several recent studies. Two of these recent
investigations have examined the characteristics of
two-phase flow in rectangular passages with high-aspect
ratios (i.e., high width to height ratios). Lowry and
Kawaji [13] examined the flow patterns for upward
co-current flow of air in narrow passage between two
flat plate with the gaps between the plate being 0.5, l
and 2 mm. They presented the flow regime transitions
on flow pattern maps cast in terms of the superficial
velocities of the two phases. In general, they found that
the transitions are slightly shifted from those predicted
for round tubes under comparable conditions.
"~

,x 1 ~
P,ugIml
Bubble (RT)

Bubble (Rect)

~
'/!
I
I
I ~ SIug(RT) //
/'
It i
I

!
mance of the surface. The impact of the Gregorig o Plug (Rect)., f / ~", Slug. (Rect)
. . . / Annular 1
effect on entrainment, void fraction and frictional pres-
sure gradient is not fully understood at the present =~- 0.1 Stratified (RT) ~ lar
time. '(Rect)
Having surveyed some of the features of two-phase - Stratified (Rect) ~ ',
transport that are unique to enhanced passage geome- (R1
69 t
tries, in the next section we will examine the available 0.01 . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . 1 . . . .

information on how flow regime transitions differ in 0.01 0.1 1 10 100

these more complicated geometries.
3. Two-phase flow regimes
The preceding section describes mechanisms that
cause two-phase transport in complex enhanced pas-
Superlicial vapor velocity (Gx/pv) (m/s)
Fig. 11. Comparison of the flow regimes observed by Wambs-
ganss, et al. [14] for a horizontal high aspect ratio rectangular
passage to the regime boundaries observed by Mandhane et
al. [15] for horizontal round tubes. The solid lines are approxi-
mate transitions for the rectangular channel. The broken lines
are transitions for round tubes.
 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and finned passages 257

Wambsganss, et al. [14] have experimentally exam-

I ' , i • O' ~-' ' I " ' l"
ined the two-phase flow patterns for horizontal cocur-
O O O n O ~ rent flow of air and water in a high aspect ratio
El ANNULAR O ~ 0 ~] ~ /
to = • a_ o 0~. rectangular channel. Figure 11 shows a comparison
between the regime transitions observed by Wambs-
ganss, et al. [14] and those indicated by the horizontal
tube data obtained by Mandhane, et al. [15]. It can be
seen that the same regimes are observed, but that the
D • • CHURN transitions occur at slightly different flow conditions.
~x I.O •
• • • o, qp BUTANOL In recent studies, Carey and Mandrusiak [3],
• ~,t u|arlq,#OL
Madrusiak, et al. [16]), Xu and Carey [17], and Dami-
IO "i , , . i . . , . . t . , anides and Westwater [18] have explored two-phase
I0 "z I0 "n 1.0 I0 I0 ~ flow in more complex' finned and ribbed channel ge-
G2 (1 - x)2 /P/ (kg / ms2) ometries. These studies generally indicate that al-
though the flow regimes encountered are basically the
Fig. 12. Two-phase flow regime observations reported by Xu
and Carey [17] for convective boiling in a vertical cross-ribbed same as for round tubes under comparable conditions,
channel. The open and solid symbols correspond to annular the exact conditions at which transitions between
flow and churn flow, respectively. The solid curve denotes the regimes occur can be significantly different. Two exam-
approximate transition for the ribbed channel. The broken ples which illustate this observation are shown in figs.
curve indicates the transition typical of round tubes. 12 and 13.

10 -- I I I IIIII I ! i , llill I ! I I re,tirol , m , mzmzm i

Bubble R o w (CHE)

x
1.0 m
m
m Intermittent R o w (CHE) Dispersed Flow (liT)
m
II im Imam II n INto | Im am | im |jpmm
m
/
]
"g
m

~ ,,,~ntermlttent Flow (RT) i/

I
40- 0.1
_=--' II A~l~a r
) _- Annular Flow (CHE) Ir . d - ~
I -- I t
oo -
I
I Ii
0.01 I Stmllfled I
-- J (R'r)
-- -- - - -- 2 mm I.D. round tube II II
-- Offset fin compact heal exct~rlger I I
I I

0.001 t tttvtttl t ttttltd t tttttill t ttttlttl

0.01 0.I 1.0 10 I00

Supernclal vapor velocity (Gx/p,) (m/s)

Fig. 13. Flow regimes observed by Damianides and Westwater [18] for horizontal flow in a compact heat exchanger surface with an
equivalent diameter of 1.75 mm and a round glass tube.
258 V.P. Carey / Two-phase flow & ribbed and finned passages
For the horizontal cross-ribbed channel geometry
considered by Xu and Carey [17], it can be seen in Fig.
12 that the transition from churn to annular flow is
only slightly different from that indicated in the flow
regime map proposed by Hewitt and Roberts [19] for
vertical round tubes. In fig. 13, the two-phase flow
regimes observed by Damianides and Westwater [18]
for horizontal flow in an offset fin geometry can be
compared to those for a small diameter round tube. In
general, the conditions at which transitions between
flow regimes for these two geometries are quite differ-
ent.
Although the current data base is relatively small,
the results of these studies consistently imply that the
use of round tube flow regime maps to predict flow
regimes in more complex passage geometries may re-
sult in significant error. If no flow regime information
for the geometry of interest is available, flow regime
maps for round tubes may be the only recourse. In
using the available information for heat exchanger
design, the designer should use a flow regime map that
is based on data that correspond as closely as possible
to the geometry and flow conditions of interest. If a
round tube regime map is used, the potential effects of
the enhanced geometry on the flow should be taken
into account if possible. In this regard, the maps for
more complex geometries described above may provide
useful insight into the effects of geometry variations.
For example, the map shown in fig. 13 indicates that
for horizontal two-phase flow in a cross-ribbed pas-
sage, the transition from intermittent to annular flow
occurs at lower superficial liquid velocities in the finned
passage than in a round tube under comparable condi-
tions. If a round tube map is used to predict the flow
regime for a particular application involving a cross-
ribbed passage, this qualitative information could be
used to adjust the round tube prediction to account for
the effect of the more complex ribbed passage geome-
try on the flow.
4. Correlation tools for predicting void fraction and
pressure gradient
Prediction of the total pressure loss is an important
element in the design of a compact evaporator or
condenser. The most common approach in such calcu-
lations is to numerically integrate a relation for the
local axial pressure gradient over the length of the
passage. In the complex flow passages of interest here,
significant lateral pressure variations can also exist at a
given downstream location in the passage. Detailed
treatment of these cross-stream effects would require a
complex three-dimensional model of the two-phase
transport. High-level models of this type will be dis-
cussed further in a later section of this paper. An
alternative to more sophisticated models would be to
apply the separated flow model, with the understand-
ing that the pressure gradient predicted by the model
is an average over the tube cross-section at the location
of interest. As we will shortly see, this approach has, in
fact, proved to be a useful predicting tool for a variety
of flow passage geometries.
Assuming negligible compressibility effects, and
nominally uniform cross-sectional area, the separated
flow model yields the following equation for the local
pressure gradient:
- ~z
t pldh
+[(1-~)p,+~pv]g sin 0
1
dz[V o~ il:(-~- J
da (1 -x)%t X-U v
+-- (6)
dx (1 _~)2 t~2
where £2 is the angle between the tube ayas and hori-
zontal, and ft is the single phase friction factor for the
liquid phase flowing alone. (See ref. [8] for a descrip-
tion of the separated flow model.) To use this relation
to compute the local pressure gradient requires a means
of predicting the two-phase multiplier ~bl and the void
fraction a for the flow conditions that exist at the
location of interest in the passage. Hence correlations
for predicting cht and a are essential components of
the database required for compact evaporator or con-
denser design.
In this section, we examine the available pressure
gradient prediction techniques for four specific cate-
gories of surfaces: rectangular passages, internally
finned or ribbed round tubes, offset fin surfaces and
cross-ribbed passages. This obviously does not include
all possible geometries. The intent here is not to ex-
haustively describe all efforts to develop correlations of
this type for finned and ribbed passages. Instead, this
section will cite examples which demonstrate methods
that work well for commonly-used geometries and give
a sense of the differences among correlations proposed
for different geometries.
 V.P. Carey / Two-phase flow in ribbed and finned passages 259

4.1. Small-scale rectangular passages nately, Wambsganss et al. [14,20] did not include mea-
surement and correlation of void fraction data.
In a recent investigation, Lowry and Kawaji [13]
experimentally determined the frictional pressure drop 4.2. Round tubes with ribbed, finned or grooved walls
characteristics for co-current flow of air and water in
Early studies by Withers and Habdas [22], D'yach-
horizontal rectangular passages with high aspect ratios.
kov [23], Kubanek and Milletti [24] and Ito and Kimura
Although they did not develop a predictive correlation
[25] obtained pressure loss data for convective vapor-
from their data, they did present their results in terms
ization in tubes with internally ribbed or finned round
of the two-phase multiplier ~bt. Their data indicate that
tubes. However, no effort was made to correlate the
the variation of 6: with Martinelli parameter X was
data. Vrable et al. [26] proposed the following correla-
strongly dependent on mass flux G. The measured
tion to predict the pressure gradient for condensation
variation was found to depend strongly on gas superfi-
in a horizontal internally-finned tube.
cial velocity, but was relatively insensitive to the super-
ficial liquid velocity and the gap width (narrowest di-
mension) of the passage. = 0"09 P - ~ i [ ~ ' - v ] + 2"85Xtt" "]
In two very recent studies, Wambsganss, et al.
[14,20], determined the pressure drop characteristics
+ --
c2(dx) [2x + (1 + 2x)A 033
for cocurrent horizontal flow of air and water in a 6 : 1
aspect ratio rectangular duct. They also found that the
p,, ~z
4~l variation with Martinelli parameter exhibited a + ( 1 - 2x)A °66 - 2(1 - x ) A ] , (13)
strong dependence on mass flux. They recommended
the following correlation for 4,t which was developed where
as a best fit to their data.
Xt t =
(1--x]°"9(pv]°'5( ].Zl] 0"1
, (14)
cb2 = 1 + C X -1 + X -2, (7) \ x 1 LPt/ k/Xv/
where A =Pv/Pt. (15)

C = aX b, (8) The correlation embodied in eq. (13) is a modified

X= [(dp/dz)t(dp/dz)g] 1/2,
a = - 2 . 4 4 + 0.00939 (Gdh/tLt),
b = - 0.938 + 0.000432 (Gdh/tLl).
This correlation was quoted as being applicable for
Gdh/t, t < 2200 and X < 1.0. In the above correlation,
the single phase pressure gradients are computed using
a friction factor versus Reynolds number correlation
determined for single phase flow through the passage.
The resulting correlation is given approximately by the
relations
version of the Martinelli-type correlation developed by
(9) Soliman et ai. [27]. The predictions of this relation
were found to agree with R-12 condensing flow pres-
(10) sure loss data to within _+40% over virtually the entire
(11) range of quality covered in the experiments of Vrable
et al. [26].
For convective condensation in horizontal internally
finned tubes, Royal and Bergles [28], Luu and Bergles
[29] and Venkatesh and Azer [30] are in agreement
that a modified version of correlation II proposed by
Dukler, et al. [31] provides the best means of predict-
ing two-phase pressure loss. The recommended corre-
lation is given by

f = 19.7(Gdh/iXt)-~ for Gdh/tX t < 2700, (12a)

, dz ]fr (~-2)ac ' (16)
f = 0.079 (Gdh/lZt) 0.25 for Gdh/ix ~> 2700. (12b)
where
This correlation was found to provide a good fit to
experimental data for horizontal flow with the narrow 2dI + 1X,2]
dimension of the passage vertical or horizontal. This - a ~Lp,.~ ~i----J) ' (17)
correlation fit the data of Wambsganss et al. [14] better
than the correlation of Friedel [21] which has been (alP) 2f0G2~b(~)e
recommended for use in pressure drop predictions for
plate-fin heat exchanger design calculations. Unfortu-
-~z fr-- ptpd i (18)
 260 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbedand finned passages

)Co= 0.0014 + O.125(4GAoE/wditztp ) --0.32, (19) ing two-phase pressure drop in internally finned tubes
would clearly be desirable.
¢,(n)
l-'q 4.3. Offset strip fins
1.281 + 0.478r/+ 0.444r/2 + 0.094@ + 0.00843@ '
Experimental information on the void fraction and
(20) friction pressure loss for two-phase flow in passages
[ PtA2 Or(1 -__A) 2 ] with offset strip fins is relatively limited. Mandrusiak
(21) and Carey [16] have recently obtained pressure loss
"= [Ptp~-~ ) + Ptpa 1' and void fraction data for adiabatic two-phase flow in a

A=
[ l+pv(T_-x)
p,x ]' , r/=lnA, (22)
large scale vertical channel with offset strip fins. These
data were obtained for co-current upward flow of
R-113 liquid and vapor in an offset fin geometry with
L t = 12.7 ram, Hf = 9.52 mm, 6~ = 1.19 mm and s = 10.2
Ptp =OrA +Pv( 1 - a ) , (23)
/.Ztp =tZl A + / z v ( l - a ) . (24)
I
For internally finned tubes, two modifications to
this correlation were recommended. The inside diame- (a)
ter d i of the tube must be replaced by the hydraulic
diameter dh, and fo must be replaced by f0* given by

f,~ =to( e~/2f° - ~/fo), (25)

~=(di)(a-O'5x(da/dx))(
(7

d x ) ~~a x -~z ' (26)

0.1
with f0 given by eq. (19). The modifications indicated
by eqs. (25) and (26) were originally suggested by Silver
i i ~llllll i i IJ,HI J i i ~lJl
and Wallis [32] to account for momentum transfer at
O. i IO I00
the interface associated with the condensation process.
In using the above correlation, Luu and Bergles [29] /x
obtained the best fit to their data using the homoge-
nous flow void fraction relation 103 I I I I Illl I I i iii. I t r i rllu I i i iIiii

plx
a = . (27) (b) prediction ot

plx +Pv(1 - x ) equation(30)x,,~,~

t02
Venkatesh and Azer [30], on the other hand, found
Ct
better agreement with their data using the Zivi [33]
correlation for void fraction: i01
X
a = (28)
X + (pv/Pl)2/3(1 --X)
[ -I J * iiiii1| L I ttlllll i i i irllil i I I ~11

Using the correlation embodied in eqs. (16)-(24) with Io I I01 I0:' io 3

the indicated modifications, the predicted overall pres-
sure loss for the complete condensation process agreed
with the corresponding measured data from the Luu
and Bergles [29] and Venkatesh and Azer [30] studies
to within + 40%. The ability of this scheme to corre-
late data for different finned tube geometries is note-
worthy. However, the scatter of the data about the
prediction is high, and refined correlations for predict-
I/X
Fig. 14. Void fraction and two-phase multiplier data obtained
by Mandrusiak et al. [16] for two-phase flow in a vertical
channel with offset strip fins. In (a), the solid line is a best fit
to the data whereas the broken line is the Lockhart-Martinelli
correlations [36] prediction for round tubes. In (b), the solid
line is the variation predicted by the Lockhart-Martinelli [36]
correlation.
 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbedand finned passages
(see fig. 4). The void fraction data were obtained using
quick-closing valves at the inlet and exit of the test
section. The single-phase friction factor curve was de-
termined for this geometry and used to correlate the
two-phase frictional pressure drop data in terms of the
two-phase multiplier and the Martinelli parameter X.
The void fraction and two-phase multiplier data
obtained in this study are shown in fig. 14. In addition
to the void fraction data, fig. 14a also shows curves
corresponding to the Martinelli void fraction correla-
tion, and the following empirical curve-fit to the data:
a = [1 + 0.25X] 2.0.
The data for the offset strip fin geometry differs sub-
stantially from the Martinelli correlation prediction at
lower qualities.
In fig. 14b, it can be seen that the two-phase multi-
plier data are well correlated as a function of Mar-
tinelli parameter, but the data are consistently higher
than the Martinelli correlation for turbulent-turbulent
flow. Based on an approximate analytical model of
momentum transfer for annular two-phase flow in the
offset strip fin geometry, Mandrusiak and Carey [16]
developed the following correlation for the two-phase
multiplier which accounts for both wall shear and
form-drag effects:
4)1= [ "2~'0"28(4)1r
M) nL (CD/V)°'28] 1"89,
where
/~r = [1 + 8.84 × 1 0 - 3 ( C o Rela) 0"629]-1.59
~f [2"Y6t/s X)2( pl )
A~= 2L,(1 + 7 ) f , ~( l - a ) + ( -1- ' ~
(l-276t/s)( 23,)]
X a2 1 + ~-f , (32)
7 = s/Hr
and C D = 0.8. In the above relations, 4)tr is the round
tube two-phase multiplier given by the Lockhart-
Martinelli correlation
C 1 ] 1/2,
4)t~= 1 + ~ - +~
where C in this relation varies according to the regimes
of vapor and liquid flow alone in the passage. The
261
mean liquid film thickness, 6t in eq. (32) is determined
from the relation
(s - 2 a , ) ( H ~ - 260
= (3s)
sHf
The correlation embodied in eqn. (30) was found to fit
the experimental data to a mean absolute deviation of
13%. Because it is based on a general model of annu-
lar film flow, there is reason to believe that it may be
generally applicable to a wide range of offset strip fin
geometries. If the 4)t and a correlations were generally
(29) applicable to geometries of this type, it would be
possible to use the separated flow relation (6) to com-
pute the overall local pressure gradient if the single-
phase friction factor correlation is known for the geom-
etry of interest. At the present time, however, further
comparison of the correlation with data for other offset
fin geometries is needed to further determine the
range of applicability of this relation.
4.4. Cross-ribbed passages
In cross-ribbed passages, opposite walls of a nomi-
nally rectangular passage have ribs that are aligned at a
fixed angle to the flow direction. The angle of the ribs
on one wall is generally the same as that on the other,
but the angle on one wall is measured in the reverse
(30) direction from that on the opposite wall. The net result
flow
(31)
#
~-v
t
(33) "T-
N
(34)
T
Fig. 15. Cross-ribbed channel geometry used in experiments
by Xu et al. [17] and Lovich et al. [34]: 0 = 30°, L = 17.1 ram,
t = 1.6 ram, d h = 5.22 mm, dho = 12.2 mm.
 262 I/..1£ Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and,finned passages

is that the ribs on opposite walls cross, with those on

one wall touching those on the other at regular inter-
vals. Figure lb is one example of such a passage
geometry. Figure 15 shows one of the idealized ver- '" t ,.
sions of a cross-ribbed passage used in studies by Xu
and Carey [17] and Lovich and Carey [34].
Apparently, only two published works have specifi- e~ t
i
\ c~=(l+X .s65~-0986
0
cally examined the pressure loss associated with two-
phase flow in cross-ribbed passages. One is the investi-
gation of Cooper [35] which examined the pressure loss
associated with downflow condensation of steam in
several different plate heat exchangers.
To predict the overall pressure loss during convec-
tive condensation in cross-ribbed formed plate chan- J
0.01[ ~ , , ,,,,,I , , ~ ~ ,,,,I , , ~ ,,,~!
nels, Cooper [35] suggested calculating the pressure 0.1 1.0 10 100

drop stepwise over a number of zones along the length 1/X

of the flow channel using a Martinelli-type correlation
to evaluate the pressure loss due to frictional effects.
In each zone, the single-phase liquid and single-phase
vapor pressure gradients in the Martinelli parameter X (b) - !
i

were computed using the single phase friction factor

correlation determined experimentally for the specific
channel geometry being tested. The two-phase fric- ~o0

tional pressure loss for each zone was then calculated

as Ot 6,

(APfr,tp) .... i = (•v2Apv) .... i' (36)

where APv is the single-phase pressure gradient com-
puted for the vapor flowing alone and ~bv is computed
using the well-known Lockhart-Martinelli [36] correla-
tion. Note that APv is to be calculated using the
single-phase friction factor relation determined experi-
mentally for the specific ribbed channel tested as a
condenser. The overall core pressure loss predicted
using this stepwise methods was found by Cooper [35]
to agree well with measured values of the total pres-
sure loss in the exchanger over wide ranges of steam
flow rate and inlet pressure.
The results of a second detailed study of frictional
pressure drop and void fraction in a cross-ribbed pas-
sage were reported by Lovich and Carey [34]. They
specifically studied the idealized cross-ribbed geometry
shown in fig. 15 and correlated the void fraction and
two-phase multiplier ~ht as functions of Martinelli pa-
rameter. They proposed the following correlations as
best fits to their data:
[ 10, 1 ],j2
qS,= 1 + x---i~.37+ ~ ] , (37)
a = [1 + X °s6s] 0.986
10
i
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
1/x
Fig. 16. Void fraction and two-phase multiplier data obtained
by Lovich et al. [34] for two-phase flow in the vertical cross-
ribbed channel geometry shown in fig. 15.
The recommended correlations are compared with the
data of Lovich and Carey [34] in Fig. 16.
4.5. General remarks
Although the data are limited, the results of these
two investigations of flows in cross-ribbed passages
suggest that the variation of the two-phase multiplier
with Martinelli parameter does not depend, to a signif-
icant degree, on mass flux, at least for the ranges of
mass flux covered in the tests. In contrast, the results
(38) of studies for high aspect ratio rectangular passages
and offset strip fins indicate that for those surfaces,
 V.P. Carey / Two-phase flow in ribbed and finned passages
&t(X) does change significantlywith mass flux. It seems
likely that this difference is a consequence of the more
severe tortuosity of the cross-ribbed passages. In the
theoretically-derived relation (40) for &t for an offset
fin surface, it can be seen that shear stress and form
drag terms contribute to ~bt. In this relation, there is a
significant mass flux dependence in the shear stress
term (in the /~ coefficient), but the form drag term is
only weakly dependent on mass flux, as it affects CD.
This suggests that the 4~t(X) varies only weakly with
mass flux for more complex ribbed and finned surfaces
because form drag, which is the dominant friction-loss
mechanism, is adequately accounted for in the ~bl(X)
correlation scheme without additional mass flux depen-
dency. While this line of reasoning seems to support
the trends observed in experimental studies, it clearly
should be tested against additional data before accept-
ing it as a generalized conclusion.
Overall, there has been remarkable success in ex-
tending round-tube correlations methods for a and ~bt
to several different finned and ribbed passage geome-
tries. The degree to which generalized correlations can
be developed for groups of different passage geome-
tries is unclear at this time. However, the results to
date strongly indicate that for a specific finned or
ribbed geometry it should be possible to develop corre-
lations for a and (~1 and use the one-dimensional
separated flow model to predict the local axial pressure
gradient.
5. Detailed computational modeling
The continuously increasing capabilities of main-
frame and workstation computers suggests that, in time,
it should be possible to construct more detailed com-
putational models of two-phase flow in ribbed and
finned flow passages. Even with acceptable levels of
computing power, constructing detailed models of
two-phase flow in these complex passages is a form-
idable task. Not surprisingly, modeling efforts of flows
of this type have lagged far behind efforts to developed
models of flows in round tubes and other simple ge-
ometries. Some serious attempts at detailed modeling
have been made for passages with offset strip fins. The
author is aware of no other ribbed or finned geome-
tries for which detailed computational models have
been proposed. Because the efforts to develop detailed
two-phase flow models for offset strip fins illuminate
the entire issue of detailed modeling, such efforts will
be closely examined here.
Yung et al. [37] and Robertson [38,39] have pro-
posed using approximate annular film-flow models to
263
predict the pressure drop in the annular flow regime.
These models are essentially extensions of annular flow
models developed for round tube geometries. A major
shortcoming of using such models for offset strip fin
geometries is that the round tube models on which
they are based account only for wall shear as the
frictional pressure drop mechanism. In channels with
offset strip fins, wall shear and form drag on the fins
are both important pressure-loss mechanisms, with
form drag becoming increasingly important at higher
flow rates. Consequently, the annular flow models for
round tubes which account only for the wall shear
mechanism cannot be used to predict the pressure loss
component in offset strip fin geometries without some
modification to account for form drag effects.
Yung et al. [37] found, in fact, that even at the
lower mass flux levels in their experiments (G < 30
kg/m2s), their film flow model underpredicted the
measured pressure loss, and that the deviation was
observed to increase with increasing mass flux. These
are exactly the expected trends, given the omission of
form drag effect in their model and the increasing
importance of form drag effects as the flow rate in-
creases.
It is also interesting to note how these models
treated liquid shedding from the downstream ends of
the fins. The model of Yung et al. [37] postulated that
liquid shed from one fin all flowed directly downstream
and attached to the leading edge of the next fin down-
stream. In other respects, their model neglected en-
trainment. In contrast, the model of Robertson [39]
postulated that liquid shed at the ends of the fins was
all immediately dispersed throughout the vapor core at
that downstream location. Upon examining this issue
more closely, Mandrusiak and Carey [40] concluded
that the general case may be quite different from these
idealized circumstances. They argued that portions of
the liquid film on the fin near the prime surface wall
would tend to be drawn onto the prime surface by
surface tension forces and would not enter the core
flow. Only the portion of the liquid film outside this
surface tension dominated region may be entrained
into the core flow. These circumstances are indicated
schematically in fig. 17.
Note in fig. 17 that if surface tension is very strong,
or if the fin is short, the length of the surface tension
dominated region 2L c may equal the fin height Hf. If
this is so, all liquid in the film is transferred to the
prime surfaces at the end of the fin and none is
entrained into the core flow. Based on experimental
detection of entrainment with a hot film probe, Man-
drusiak and Carey [40] concluded that significant shed-
 264 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and finned passages
H way for quantifying the effects of channel geometry
~'e¢,;,7~,Z_ " evaporation in an offset fin matrix. In doing so they
,o, "e,v~
Fig. 17. Entrainment and surface tension dominated regions
at the trailing edge of the fins as postulated by Mandrusiak
and Carey [40].
ding would occur only for We H = G2x2Hf/~rOv > 20
and W% = G2x2~/O-pv > 0.10. When these conditions
are satisfied, shedding will occur, but even so, only a
fraction of the film leaving the trailing end of the fin
will be entrained, with the balance flowing onto 'the
prime surface walls of the passage. A fully accurate
general model of the two-phase flow under annular
flow conditions must account for this splitting of the
film flow at the end of the fin.
Models of two-phase flow in offset strip fin matrices
like those proposed by Yung et al. [37], Robertson
[38,39] and Mandrusiak and Carey [16] usually include
a number of idealizations of questionable accuracy.
These include:
(1) The shear stress along the interface of the liquid
film flowing along the matrix is uniform around the
perimeter of the passage at a given location, and
usually over each fin.
(2) With the exception of the film-flow model of
Robertson [39], entrainment has typically been ne-
glected.
(3) The static pressure gradient, when included in the
film flow analysis, is taken to be a constant mean
value all along the length of a fin.
(4) Transport in the liquid film is usually assumed
similar to that for annular flow in continuous rect-
angular passages. Local changes in the liquid and
vapor flow fields caused by the discontinuous fins
are usually not accounted for in the model.
(5) A very approximate treatment of liquid film shed
ding from the fins is incorporated into model.
Besides using most of these idealizations in their foun-
dation, previous models have not provided a systematic
and fin or rib arrangement on two-phase transport. In
addition, existing models have yielded little informa.-
tion about how the liquid and vapor phases are dis-
tributed within the channel, or how they interact with
each other and the fins.
In a very recent study, Mandrusiak and Carey [I]
constructed a very detailed model of annular film-flow
attempted to avoid the idealizations described above
and include more realistic models of the transport
mechanisms. A complete description of this computa-
tional model would be too lengthy to present here.
Instead, the computational scheme will be briefly out-
lined to examine the mechanism models incorporated
into it.
In the computational scheme of Mandrusiak and
Carey [1], models of transport in the core and film flow
regions were derived separately from the fundamental
equations for single-phase fluid mechanics. These
models were then linked together by imposing continu-
ity requirements on velocity and shear stress all along
the vapor-liquid interface. The vapor phase was mod-
eled as fully turbulent, periodically fully developed
flow through a unit cell of a two-dimensional idealiza-
tion of the offset fin array. A k-E model was used to
account for turbulent transport in the core flow. The
influence of entrained liquid on the vapor flow field
was included by computing the effective fluid proper.-
60 I I I I !
50 o: 95-,g,;2, /i / j
1,.= 50%
4O
50
2O
I I F1
I0
0
I I i |
I I I I I I ]
0 I 2
x/L
Fig. 18. Variation of the static pressure along the indicated
path as calculated by the computational model of Mandrusiak
and Carey [1] for R-11 at 550 kPa.
 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and finned passages 265

ties using homogeneous flow theory. The vapor model
includes the effects of the irregular shape of the va-
por-liquid interface on the vapor flow domain and
adjusts the boundary conditions to reflect the non-zero
velocity at the interface of the liquid film.
The liquid film was treated using a weakly three-di-
mensional model formed by joining (along the corners
of the channel) separate models of the film flowing
along the prime and fin surfaces of the matrix. This
film model included the effects of the continual redis-
tribution of the liquid phase along and around the
prime surface and fin surface walls of the matrix. The
model includes the influence of both droplet deposi-
tion and entrainment, and circumferential spreading of
the liquid film by turbulent interfacial shear stresses on
liquid redistribution around the matrix walls. Based on

(a) Saturated R-11 at 550 kPa, G = 95 kg/m2s (b) Saturated R-11 at 550 kPa, G = 95 kg/m2s
1.2 1.2

.e
1.0
.z J~
z 1.0
z
B- N
'ID
%` 0.8 0.8
"ID H 0 , 2H 0 , 4H 0
"0
:-.<
"O
0.E 0.6
%-
B- "O
%` BaNlk~ GeomeW
"ID 0.4
SO- 1.49 mm 10 0.4
¢1. L0 ' 2L0,41.0 BaselineGeomeW
t o - 3.18 mm
SO - 1.49 mm
0.2 H0 - 6.35 rnm
0.2 L0 - 3.18 mm
H0 - 12.7mm
0.(] i ! !
0.0 i i
0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
X
x

(c) Saturated R-11 at 550 kPa, G = 95 kg/m2s

1.2
£
; 1.0
%`
'ID
0.8
'10

0.6
N
'ID

0.4
So, 2So, 4So 8ueline Geon~ry
S0-1.49 mm
0.2 LO-S.3S mm
H0 - 12.7mm
0.0 | |

0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

x
Fig. 19. Influence of fin dimensions on frictional pressure drop in offset fin geometries as computed by the model of Mandrusiak
and Carey [1]: (a) effect of fin height; (b) effect of fin length; (c) effect of cross-stream spacing. The subscript H = H0 indicates the
pressure gradient for the baseline geometry.
266 V.P. Carey / Two-phaseflow in ribbedand finned passages
the earlier entrainment study by these investigators [40]
they also postulated that the fraction of the liquid film
shed at the trailing end of the fins was a function of
Webber number We n. A functional form of this de-
pendence was developed and used in this overall com-
putational scheme to account for the shedding contri-
bution to entrainment.
Since streamwise variations in both the velocity
fields and the location of the vapor-liquid interface
depend on conditions in both phases, the exact compu-
tational boundaries for the core and film regions can-
not be specified a priori. Consequently, finite-dif-
ference calculations in each phase were done itera-
tively, with the output for one phase serving as input to
the other. Iterations continued until the location of the
vapor-liquid interface no longer changed and the veloc-
ity and shear stress varied continuously across the
interface. A complete description of the transport
equations and model equations used in this scheme are
presented in ref. [1].
A typical set of core-flow streamlines determine by
the computational scheme of Mandrusiak and Carey
[1] are shown in fig. 5. Of particular note is that the
variation of the core flow results in a variation of the
streamwise pressure gradient and film-flow transport
along the fin surfaces. Figure 18 shows the computed
variation of static pressure along the unit cell of the
matrix for a typical set of conditions. These restdts
indicate that the film must actually flow against an
adverse pressure gradient over the leading edge of the
fin. The resulting variations of the film flow transport
also produced a strong variation of the heat transfer
coefficient over the fin. Predictions of this model were
found to agree fairly well with two-phase multiplier
data obtained by Mandrusiak and Carey [16]. This
computational model was also used to explore the
effects of geometry variations on the two-phase fric-
tional pressure gradient and heat transfer perfor-
mance. Typical variations of the pressure gradient with
geometry changes are shown in fig. 19. Perhaps the
greatest potential value of a model of this type would
be as a means of evaluating the performance of differ-
ence finned surface geometries. In this sense such a
model could be of tremendous use as a design tool.
6. Concluding remarks
The results of recent investigations document the
additional mechanisms that play important roles in
two-phase convective transport in finned and ribbed
passages. Knowledge of these mechanisms is currently
very limited. There has been considerable success in
adapting correlation methods for predicting the two-.
phase pressure gradient and void fraction in round
tubes to more complicated finned and ribbed passages.
However, these methods, which are based on the one-
dimensional separated flow model, provide no informa-
tion of the details of the complicated interaction of the
liquid and vapor phases with the fin and rib structures
in the passage. Detailed computational modeling of
two-phase transport in complex finned and ribbed pas-
sages is valuable both as a means of understanding how
the flow interacts with the passage structures, and as a
means of predicting performance characteristics of dif-
ferent geometries for design evaluations. While the
computational scheme developed by Mandrusiak and
Carey [1] is a useful step forward, it is clear that several
of the mechanism models in this scheme need to be
more fully evaluated and improved if possible. Further
research into the characteristics of these mechanisms is
needed to improve these models so that advanced
computational scheme development can continue. Sim-
ilar efforts for other geometries would also be of great
value.
Nomenclature
A0 cross sectional open area of channel,
dh hydraulic diameter based on wetted perimeter,
4A o/Pw,
dhp hydraulic diameter based on heated perimeter,
4 A o/Pn,
G mass flux,
Hf height dimension of fins or ribs,
L length of fin or spacing between ribs in the
downstream direction,
p pressure,
PH heated perimeter,
Pw wetted perimeter,
s cross-stream fin spacing,
t fin or rib thickness,
We H Weber number based on fin height,
G 2x 2HJ~rpv,
W% Weber number based on film thickness,
GZxe6/O'pv,
x mass quality,
X Martinelli parameter, [ ( d p / d z ) J ( d p / d z ) v ] 1/2.
Greek symbols
a void fraction,
~t liquid film thickness,
 V.P. Care), / Two-phaseflow in ribbed and finned passages
fin thickness,
~f
/z absolute viscosity,
two-phase multiplier, [(dp/dz)fr,tp/
(dp/dZ)l] 1/2,
P density,
surface tension,
Ti interfacial s h e a r stress acting on liquid film.
Subscripts
l liquid properties; c o r r e s p o n d i n g to the liquid
flowing alone,
v v a p o r properties; c o r r e s p o n d i n g to the vapor
flowing alone,
tp,fr two p h a s e frictional c o m p o n e n t of pressure gra-
dient.
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